Even as a meeting is scheduled to take place Indian and Sri Lankan governments in Colombo on Monday over the fishermen issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday took objection to the reported statements of Sri Lankan Ministers that boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu, presently in the custody of the Island Nation, would be taken over by the Lankan government.
“Such statements appear to mock the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Government of India to sort out the sensitive issue. I strongly urge the Government of India to register its disapproval of such remarks in the strongest possible terms at the appropriate level. Such statements just before the Inter Ministerial level talks of the two countries will certainly vitiate the atmosphere before the talks," Mr. Panneerselvam wrote in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chief Minister referred media reports on the reported statements by Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera and its Northern Province Minister for Fisheries and Rural Development Balasubramaniam Deniswaran and further alleged they were "very unfortunate and needlessly provocative remarks".
Mr. Panneerselvam said it was an “unfortunate development” coming at a time when the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries recently met in New Delhi on Saturday last and was due to meet again on the sidelines of the Ministerial meeting at Colombo on Monday. He also recalled the efforts taken by the Tamil Nadu government in securing the release of 114 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen presently in Lankan custody.
The Chief Minister further reiterated the State government request to the Centre to ensure that the boats were returned in a refurbished condition at the earliest. “I also request you to ensure that immediate action is taken to secure the release of the 51 Indian fishermen who continue to languish in Sri Lankan custody,” he added.
